Telegraph sending key



N 1940- w. R. STARKINS TELEGRAPH SENDING KEY Filed March '7, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN'IIOR. LVZEerZZqymrzaf 5%762Jn6 BY E -%2Ls ATTORNEYS 1940- w. R. STARKINS TELEGRAPH SENDING KEY Filed March 7, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to a key or device for sending telegraphic signals, either over land telegraph lines, cables, or wireless (radio) transmitters.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved and simplified sending device, of simple and sturdy construction, so designed as to reduce to a minimum the effort required of the operator, and eliminate or greatly reduce the fatigue to which operators have heretofore been subjected.

Another object is the provision of a sending key which can be adjusted to operate at any desired speed within wide limits, and in which the adjustment can .be changed while the key is in operation, without interfering with the progress of sending a message.

Still another object is the provision of a sending key so designed as to determine mechanically the lengths of dashes to be sent as well as dots.

A further object is the provision of a key for sending dots of mechanically determined length and dashes of mechanically determined length in any combination desired by the operator, the

spacing between the dots and dashes being manually controlled by the operator while the lengths of the dots and dashes themselves are mechanically controlled so as to be of accurate predetermined length.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in 3 the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

40 Fig. 2 is an end view thereof, viewed from the right hand end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig, 4 is a top plan View thereof;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to a fragment of Fig. 1, with parts broken away and parts in vertical section, showing the latch of the dot sending disk released so that this disk may rotate to 50 send one or more dots;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the dash sending disk and associated parts, and

Fig. 7 is an elevation illustrating a modified form of circuit closing switch controlled by the 55 dot and dash disks.

The same reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

It is Well known that the operation of ordinary telegraph sending keys, of the type in which a separate movement of the operators fingers 5 must take place for each dot and for each dash, involves considerable nervous strain and energy on the part of the operator, with resultant fa.- tigue. Efforts to remedy this have been made by the provision of devices for automatically 10 sending some of the signals, the construction probably most commonly used being one in which a plurality of successive dots may be sent by a single movement of the operators fingers, but in which separate movements of the operators 15 fingers are required for sending separate dashes, so that there is still a considerable amount of energy required, with resultant fatigue.

As distinguished from such prior constructions, the present construction provides a simplified 20 and more efiicient device, capable of sending any number of successive dashes as well as any number of successive dots without requiring separate movements by the operator for each dash or each dot. The length of each dash and spacing be- 25 tween successive dashes, as well as the length of each dot and spacing between successive dots, is mechanically controlled and regulated by the present device, the speed of operation of which is readily adjustable.

The device in the preferred form shown as an illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawings, comprises suitable frame parts of metal or other desirable material, serving to support a suitable motor ll constantly driving a shaft it. The motor it may conveniently be a small electric motor of constant speed, although a spring motor may be employed if desired.

Fixed to the shaft l3 to rotate constantly therewith is a worm l5 driving a worm gear I! fixed to a hub l9 freely rotatable on a vertical fixed shaft 2| mounted on a bracket 23 of the frame. At the lower end of the hub I9 is a horizontal disk 25 the lower face of which has firmly secured thereto a layer of any suitable friction material 21.

A coiled spring 29 surrounding the shaft 2i between the upper end of the hub l9 and the lower side of the bracket 23, constantly tends to press the hub l9, the gear I1, and the disk 25 downwardly to hold the friction material 21 on the disk firmly against the periphery of a second disk 3| mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on the shaft 33 which is journaled in the frame of the machine. The frictional en gagement between disks 25 and 3| causes the rotation of the disk 25 to drive the disk 3| at a speed ratio relative to the disk 25 which depends on the position of the disk 3| with respect to the axis of the shaft 2|. As the disk 3| is brought closer to the axis of the shaft 2|, the ratio of its speed to the speed of the disk 25 is decreased, and conversely the disk 3| turns at a maximum speed when it is in contact with the disk 25 close to the periphery of the latter.

The disk 3| is fixed to a hub 35, likewise slidable longitudinally on the shaft 33, which hub 35 is provided with a longitudinally arranged series of teeth each extending circumferentially around the hub, as shown. These teeth mesh with the teeth of a pinion 31 fixed to a shaft 39 journaled in the frame and provided with a knob 4| at its forward end. By turning the knob 4| in one direction or the other, the sleeve 35 is moved backward or forward along the shaft 33 to adjust the position of the driven disk 3| on the face of the driving disk 25, thus changing the speed transmission ratio.

Fixed to the shaft 33 is a collar 45 to which a pin 41 is fixed, this pin extending leftwardly from the collar in a direction parallel to the shaft 33, and passing loosely through a hole in the disk 3|. Rotation of the disk 3| is thus transmitted through the pin 41 to the shaft 33. Instead of using this pin arrangement, the hub 35 of the disk 3| could be slidably keyed to the shaft 33, or the shaft could be made of square or other non-circular shape, with the opening through the hub of corresponding shape to provide a nonrotatable connection between the shaft and the hub 35, while permitting longitudinal sliding movements.

Fixed to the shaft 33, to the right of the collar 45, is a collar 5|, the right hand face of which is provided with friction material 53. Still farther to the right, a collar is loose on the shaft 33 and has its left hand face provided with friction material 51. Between these two collars and contacting with both of the friction coatings 53 and 51, is a dash-sending disk 6| loosely mounted on the shaft 33 for free rotation thereon, except as such rotation is impeded by contact with the friction surfaces. A coiled spring 63 surrounding the shaft 33 to the right of the collar 55, reacts rightwardly against a collar 65 fixed to the shaft and constantly presses leftwardly against the collar 55, to keep this collar in contact with the disk 6| and to keep the disk 6| in contact with the friction coating 53 on the collar 5|. A pin 61 fixed to the collar 65 extends leftwardly into a hole in the collar 55, to establish a driving connection between the collars 65 and 55, while permitting slight axial movement of the latter. With this arrangement, whenever the disk 6| is not otherwise restrained, it will turn with the shaft 33, because of its contact with the friction material 53 and 51. But if the disk 6| is forcibly restrained, it will remain stationary, the shaft 33 and collars 5| and 55 continuing their uninterrupted rotation.

Still farther to the right, on the same shaft 33, is a similar arrangement but with the parts placed in reversed order. These parts include a collar 1| fixed to the shaft 33 and corresponding in general to the collar 5|, provided with a friction surface 13 on its left face, and another collar 15 provided with friction material 11 on its right face. Between the two collars is a dot sending disk 8|, while a coiled spring 03, reacting against a collar 85, tends to clamp the disk 8| between the friction surfaces 13 and 11, so that this disk 8| like the disk 6|, tends to turn with the shaft 33, but can be forcibly restrained from turning. A pin 81 on collar 85 enters a hole in collar 15.

The periphery of the dash sending disk 6| is provided with teeth which are relatively long in a circumferential direction, as seen in Fig. 6, with relatively short cut-away spaces between adjacent teeth. The dot sending disk 8| is provided with teeth which are relatively short in a circumferential direction and with relatively long cutaway spaces between adjacent teeth as seen in Fig. 2. The telegraph or radio circuit is controlled by these teeth. For instance, immediately behind the dash disk 6| there may be an upstanding strip of resilient metal 9| (Fig. 6) insulated from the frame of the machine by suitable insulation 93, the upper end of the strip being bent forwardly so as to lie against the teeth of the disk 6| as this disk is rotated, or to enter the cut-out space between the teeth when the disk stops in proper predetermined position as seen in Fig. 6. Similarly, behind the dot disk 8| is an upstanding resilient metal piece 95, likewise mounted on the insulating block 93 and having its upper end bent forwardly to engage with the teeth of the disk 8| or to lie in the cut-out spaces between the teeth. The key circuit of the telegraph, cable, or radio transmission system is connected at one side to the frame of the device, so as to be in electrical contact with the disks 6| and 8|, and connected at the other side to both of the metal feelers 9| and 95, such as by being connected to a binding post 91. So long as both disks BI and 8| are held stationary in prede- 1" termined position (by mechanism described below) both feelers 9| and 95 extend into the cutout spaces between the teeth of the disks and do not contact with the disks, so that the circuit is open. If either disk be rotated, its teeth will make contact with the corresponding one of the feelers 9| and 95, thus closing the circuit, which will remain closed for only a short time as each tooth of the dot disk 8| passes the end of the feeler 95, or for a longer time as each tooth of the dash disk 6| passes the end of the feeler 9|. The number of successive dots or successive dashes to be sent will depend on the extent to which the disks BI and 6| are permitted to rotate, before being stopped.

Where the current passing through the key circuit is large, it may be desired not to connect one side of the key circuit directly to the frame of the machine, but to keep the frame of the machine entirely out of the electric circuit. In

this event, instead of making the contact directly between the disks 6| or 8| and cooperating feeler members, the teeth on the disks may serve to operate a separate switch, in the manner shown in Fig. '1. of being provided with the feelers 9| and 95, is provided behind each disk with two upstanding metal members IOI and I03 having cooperating contact points I05 and I01 at their upper ends. The resilience of these members I0| and I03 normally holds the contact points I05 and I01 separated from each other. The member I03 carries a cam extension I09 of insulating material extending into position to be deflected by the teeth of the associated sending disk as the disk rotates. When the disk is stationary the cam I09 is in the cut-out space between teeth, allowing the contact points I05 and I01 to remain open, but when the disk rotates, the teeth deflect the cam portion I09, throwing the contact Here, the insulating block 93, instead point I01 against the contact point I35 and closing the circuit, one side of which is connected to the member I DI and the other side of which is connected to the member I53. An arrangement of this kind is used in connection with each of the two disks BI and Bi, and no current flows through the frame of the machine.

For controlling the movements of the disks GI and 8I, the following mechanism is provided. On the frame of the machine, a stationary shaft I2I projects forwardly. Mounted on suitable bearing sleeves on this shaft, for swinging movement independently of each other, are two stop arms, a

leftwardly extending arm I23 to contact with the dash disk BI, and a rightwardly extending arm I25 to contact with the dot disk 8I. When one of these arms is in its lower position, it

partially enters the cut away space between teeth of its associated disk and contacts with one tooth in such position (as shown in Figs. 2 and 6) as to hold the disk stationary at the proper point so that the associated contact member 9| or 95 (or the cam I09, when the alternative arrangement is used) will lie in another cut away space of the disk. When either of the stop arms I23 and I25 is raised slightly by swinging it upwardly on the shaft I2I, it clears the tooth of its associated disk and permits this disk to rotate.

An arm I21 (Fig. 3) connected to the right hand stop arm I25 extends downwardly from the shaft I2I and has a forward extension I23 provided at its forward end with an insulating finger piece I3I. Stop screws I33 and H (Fig. 3) limit the extent of swinging movement of the arms I21 and I29 in either direction.

Another arm I31, suitably connected to the left hand stop arm I23, likewise extends downwardly from the shaft I2I and is provided at its lower end with a forward extension I33 having at its forward end an insulating finger piece MI. Stop screws I43 and I45 (Fig. 3) limit the swinging movement of this arm in either direction.

The arm I21 carries a leaf spring I5I (Fig. 1) reacting against a fixed part I53 of the frame and resiliently tending to hold the arm I21 as far leftwardly as the stop screw I33 will permit. A similar leaf spring I55, mounted on the arm I31 and reacting against the fixed frame part I51, tends to hold the member I31 as far to the right as its stop screw I 45 will permit. These leaf springs normally hold the parts of the control mechanism or stop mechanism in the positions shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

If the finger piece I3I is moved slightly to the right from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, this will swing the arm I21 to the right against the force of the spring I5I, and will raise the stop arm I25 connected to the arm I21, thus permitting the dot disk 8| to rotate with the constantly rotating shaft 33. One or several dots will be sent, depending on how long the operator maintains the rightward pressure on the finger piece I3I. As soon as he releases the finger piece, the spring I5I tends to restore the stop arm I25, and the arm drops into the next notch of the disk and stops rotation thereof.

Similarly, if the finger piece I4I be pressed leftwardly, against the force of the spring I55, this will raise the dash stop arm I23 and permit the dash disk 6| to rotate. One or more dashes will be sent, depending on the length of time that the operator maintains the leftward pressure on the finger piece MI, and when pressure is released, the stop arm will enter the next available notch of the dash disk, stopping rotation thereof. Thus it is seen that by pressing the member I3I to the right, one or several successive dots may be sent, and by pressing the member I4I to the left, one or several successive dashes may be sent, each dot being of uniform predetermined length and each dash being of uniform predetermined length, which lengths can be varied by turning the knob 4|, while the device is in operation and without interfering with the sending of a message, to vary the speed at which the shaft 33 rotates. Since the operator need make only one motion to send several dots or one motion to send several dashes, it is seen that the physical work of the operator is greatly reduced, and consequent fatigue is largely eliminated.

To prevent the accidental movement of both finger pieces I3I and MI at the same time, which would result in scrambling the dots and dashes, a stop screw I6I (Fig. 4) is mounted on the lever H33 and extends toward the lever I29, leaving such clearance between the levers that only one can be moved to its releasing position at a time. Whenever the lever I29 is moved sufficiently far to release its associated disk, the stop screw I6I prevents the other lever I39 frombeing so moved, and vice versa.

If the circuit connections are such that one side of the key circuit is connected to the frame of the machine, then to insure proper carriage of the current from the frame to the dot and dash disks, it may be advisable to mount .on the frame a pair of leaf springs I1! and I8I (Fig. 1) the former pressing lightly against one side of the disk 5i and the latter pressing lightly against one side of the disk 8I, to form electrical connections therewith. These springs can be eliminated if the circuit closing arrangement shown in Fig. 7 is employed, where no current passes through the frame of the machine or the dot and dash disks.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number of ways. This application is therefore not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within the scope of the ap-- pended claims.

I claim:

1. A telegraph code transmitting device including rotary member for making and breaking a circuit to form a series of dashes, a second rotary member for making and breaking a circuit to form a series of dots, a driving member constantly tending to rotate both of said rotary members, stop means normally holding both of said rotary members against rotation, and manually controlled means for selectively releasing either of said rotary members for rotation under the influence of said driving member.

2. A telegraph code transmitting device including a rotary member for making and breaking a circuit to form a series of dashes, a second rotary member for making and breaking a circuit to form a series of dots, a driving member constantly tending to rotate both of said rotary members, adjustable means for varying the speed of said driving member, stop means normally holding both of said rotary members against rotation, and manually controlled means for selectively releasing either of said rotary members for rotation under the influence of said driving member.

Cir

3. A telegraph code transmitting device including a rotary member for making and breaking a circuit to form a series of dashes, a second rotary member for making and breaking a circuit to form a series of dots, a driving member, a slippable frictional driving connection between said driving member and each of said rotary members to tend to rotate both of said rotary members, separate stop members normally holding each of said rotary members against rotation, and manually controlled means for selectively releasing either of said stop members to permit rotation of the rotary member associated therewith.

4. A telegraph code transmitting device ineluding a rotary member for making and breaking a circuit to form a series of dashes, a second rotary member for making and breaking a circuit to form a series of dots, a drying member, a slippable frictional driving connection between said driving member and each of said rotary members to tend to rotate both of said rotary members, separate stop members norm ing each of said rotary members against rotation, and anually controlled means movable in one dire n to release one of said top members to perm-t rotation of one of the rotary members and movable in an opposite direction to release tl e other of said stop members to permit rotation of the other rotary member.

A telegraph code trans hitting device in-- cluding a shaft, a motor for turning said shaft, a first disk rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a dash and space forming periphery, a second disk rotatably mounted on said shaft an: having dot and space forming periphery, friction means mounted on and turning with said shaft adjacent each of said disks, spring means holding said disks in contact with said friction s so that said disks tend to ti In with said and manually operable means for controlling rotation of said disks.

6. A telegraph code transmitting device inclu g a shaft, a motor for turning said shaft, t disk rotatably mounted on said shaft and raving a dash and space forming periphery, a second chsk rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a dot and space forming periphery, friction means mounted on and turning with said shaft adjacent each of said disks, spring means iolding said disks in contact with said friction means so that said disks tend to turn with said shaft, first manually operable member for corn trolling rotation of said first disk, and a second manually operable member for controlling rotation of said second disk.

7. A telegraph code transmitting device ineluding a shaft, a motor for turning said shaft, a first disk rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a dash and space forming periphery, a second disk rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a dot and space forming periphery, friction means mounted on and turning with said shaft adjacent each of said disks, spring means holding said disks in contact with said friction means so that said disks tend to turn with said shaft, a first releasable latch member cooperating with said first disk to hold said disk against rotation, a second releasable latch member cooperating with said second disk to hold said disk against rotation, and manually operable parts movable in one direction to release one of said latch members and movable in an opposite direction to release the other of said latch members.

8. A telegraph code transmitting device including a shaft, a motor for turning said shaft, a first disk rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a dash and space forming periphery, a second disk rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a dot and space forming periphery, friction means mounted on and turning with said shaft adjacent each of said disks, spring means hol ing said disks in contact with said friction means so that said disks tend to turn with said shaft, a first releasable latch member cooperating with said first disk to hold said disk against rotation, a second releasable latch member cooperating with said second disk to hold said disk against rotation, a first manually operable member movable in one direction to release said first latch member, and a second manually operable member movable in an opposite direction to release said second latch member.

9. A construction as described in claim 8, in which said two manually operable members lie approximately side by side and in which the releasing movement of each is in a direction toward the other.

10. A telegraph code sending device including a motor, a worm driven by said motor, a friction disk driven by said worm, a second disk mounted for rotation about an axis approximately perpendicu ar to the axis of said friction disk, said second disk contacting with the face of said friction disk to be driven thereby, means for moving said second disk farther from or closer to the axis of rotation of said friction disk to vary the speed of rotation of said second disk relative to the speed of the friction disk, dot sending means driven from said second disk, dash sending means also driven from said second disk, and manually operable means for separately controlling said dot sending means and said dash sending means.

WALTER RAYMOND STARKINS. 

